Strip guiding and tensioning device for sewing-machines



.l. C. RINGE.

APPLICATION HLEE MAY 10. I918.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

WITNESS- WWW,

INVENTOR ATTORNEY j. 0. M65. STRIP GUIDING AND TENSIONING DEVICE FORSEWIIJG MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILEC MAY 10. 1918- 1,366,420. Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS'SHEET 2- I INVIENTOR WITNESS ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOHN C. RING-E, OF BRIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MANU-FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

STRIP GUIDING AND TENSIONING DEVICE FOR SEWING-MACHINES.

T0 at! "whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN C. RrNen, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bridgeport, in the county of Fairfield and State ofConnecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in StripGuiding and Tensioning Devices for Sewing-Ii/iachines, of which thefollowing is a specification, reference being had therein to theaccompanying drawings.

This invention relates to strip-controlling devices particularly adaptedfor use in connection with sewing machines and has for its primaryobject to provide improved guiding and tensioning means for a strip offabric as it is led to the stitch-forming mechanism.

Another object of this invention is to provide convenient meanspermitting regula tion of the degree of tension imposed upon a strip offabric, combined with means permitting adjustment of the strip-guidingand tensioning elements for different widths and thicknesses of stripsof fabric.

In its preferred embodiment, the present improvement comprises asupporting plate,

adapted to be secured to the front edge of.

a sewing machine table and provided with aplurality of corrugationsextending transversely of the line of scam formation. Pivotally journaled in bearings provided in the supporting plate is aspring-torsioned shaft upon which is secured a tensioning memberprovided with corrugations, mating with the corrugations on thesupporting plate and adapted to impose a tension upon a strip of fabricled in a tortuous path therebetween. Means are provided permitting thetension of the spring acting on the shaft to be adjusted to'vary theaction of the tensioning member upon the strip. By means of anadjustable stop-element the acting position of the tensioning member maybe varied for the purpose of readily adapting the device for controllingheavy or light strips of fabric directed by edge-guiding membersadjustably secured upon the supporting plate. A

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front side elevation of aportion of a sewing machine to which the present im provement isapplied. Fig. 2 is a bottom plan view partly in section of the strip tensioning and guiding device. Fig. 3 is an end view of the device with thesewing ma- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed May 10, 1918. Serial No. 233,615.

chine table in section and as viewed from the right in Fig. 1. Fig. 4 isa central vertical section of the device as shown in Fig. 1 and omittingthe strip of fabric. Fig. 5 is a central horizontal section of thedevice as shown in Fig. 1 and omitting the strip of fabric.

Referring to the drawings, the sewing machine is shown mounted on atable 1 and, as usual includes a needle-bar 2, reciprocable in the head3 and carrying a needle or needles, as 4. Any suitable compleinenta].stitch-forming mechanism may be employed to cooperate with the needles,the particular construction of the sewing machine with which this striptensioning and guiding device is employed not entering into' the presentinvention.

Suitably secured to the front edge of the sewing machine table is asupporting plate 5, provided with a plurality of ribs or corrugations,as 6, extending transversely of the strip of fabric 8 being acted upon.-Mating with these corrugations are a plurality of similar corrugationsformed by ribs, as 7, arranged alternately with respect to the ribs 6 ona tensioning member or plate 8 secured by means of set-screws, as 9,upon a pivot-shaft 10, journaled in spaced bearings 11 and 12 formed onthe supporting plate 5. The ribs or corrugations 6 and 7 togethercomprise tensioning elements under the action of which the strip is ledin a tu u anism.

Suitably secured upon the shaft 10 is a collar 13 formed with anaperture entered by one end of a coiled spring 14, surrounding the shaftand of which the other end is adapted to bear against the supportingplate. It is evident that the degree of tension exerted by theintermeshing corrugations upon a strip of fabric is dependent path to.the stitch-forming mechupon the torsional action of the spring 14.

7 position of the corrugations for properly tensioning heavy or lightfabric strips, a stop-element is provided in the form of a screw 16threaded into an aperture in the against the supporting plate 5, thescrew 16 being held in the adjusted position by means of a lock-nut 17For the purpose of properly guiding the edges of he strip, thesupporting plate is provided with a groove 18 in which are slidinglymounted the edge-guides 19 and 20, formed with elcngatedslots 21 and 22and adapted to be adjustably secured in position by means of screws, as23 and 24, respectively. It will be observed that by positioning thebases of the edge-guides in the groove 18, the danger of having thestrip of fabric slide under the edge-guides is obviated. An opening 25is provided in the tensioni g member, permitting convenient access tothe screws 23 and 24 tor-adjustment of the'edge-guides l9 and 20. Thelower ed e 26 of the supporting plate is rounded and partially surroundsthe pivotshaft 10 to prevent the strip of fabric from becoming soiled bycontact with the shaft and also to form convenient guiding means for thestrip as it is led from the supply. The strip may readily be threadedbetween the supporting plate and the tensioning. member by swinging thelatter upon its fulcrum away from the supporting plate, the

lower active edge 27 of the tensioning mem-,

her being spaced sutliciently from its fulcrum to provide a convenientthreading opening when swung outwardly away from the supporting plate.Further, by fulcrumin g the tensioning member adjacent one edge thereofas clearly shown in the drawings the strip of fabric may be laterallythreaded into the device, thereby obviating the difiiculty heretoforeexperienced in endwise introduction of the strip.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinis 1. A strip tensioning and guiding device for directing a strip offabric to the action of the stitch-forming mechanism of sewing machinescomprising a supportingplate, a strip-tensioning member cooperating withsaid supporting plate to impose a tension on a strip of fabric passingtherebetween,-

means for pivotally sustaining said'striptensioning member, and meanspermitting the threading of a strip laterally into said device in adirection substantiall oarallel with the pivotal support of saidstrip-ten sioning member and means for securing said strip-tensioningmember in operative relationship with respect to the sewing machinestitch-forming mechanism.

2. A strip tensioning and guiding device for sewing machines comprisinga supporting pla e, a strip-tensionin member cooperating with saidsupporting plate to im- Jose a tension on a strip of fabric passintherebetween, means for pivotally sustaining said strip-tensioningmember, edgeguiding means intermediate the free edge and the pivotalsupport of said strip-tensioning member, and means permitting adjustmentof said edge-guiding means in the operative position of said member.

3. In a sewing machine,-the combination with stitch-forming mechanism,of a striptensioning and guiding device comprising a supporting plate, apivot shaft journaled upon said supporting plate, a tensioning membersecured upon said pivot-shaft, a coiled spring embracing saidpivot-shaft tending to hold the tensioning member in yielding contactwith said supporting plate, adjustable means for limiting the effectiveaction of'said spring, edge-guiding means intermediate the pivot-shaftand the free edge of said tensioning member, and means permitting thethreading of a strip laterally into said device in a directionsubstantially parallel with the axis of said pivot-shaft.

In testimony whereof, I have slgned' my name to this specification.

JOHN C. amen.

